Planning foundation or waterproofing work? Find contractors by state, county or city. Our guides cover general planning; check the directory for current local coverage.
Short answer
Hire a piering contractor against a written diagnosis, not a pier count alone. Ask each bidder to explain what is causing the movement, which pier system they propose and why, how many piers go where, and whether an engineer and a permit are involved. Compare written scopes line by line before comparing totals.
Start with the cause of the movement
Piers transfer load to deeper soil or rock; they do not fix drainage, plumbing leaks or soil that keeps getting wetter and drier. Ask each contractor what they believe is causing the settlement and what evidence they used: floor elevation readings, crack patterns, soil conditions or an engineer's report. If two bidders disagree about the cause, that disagreement matters more than the price difference.
Compare the pier system and layout
Common systems include push piers, helical piers and poured or pressed concrete piers. Each suits different loads and soils. Ask for a drawing that shows where each pier goes, the type of pier and how depth or load will be verified during installation. A quote that only says a number of piers cannot be compared with one that specifies the system and the installation criteria.
Ask what lift to expect, and what could crack
Stabilizing a foundation and lifting it back toward level are different goals. Ask whether the plan is to stop further movement, recover some elevation, or both, and what the contractor will not promise. Lifting can open or close existing cracks in drywall, tile and brick, and can affect doors and plumbing. Get in writing who handles those follow-up repairs.
Permits, engineering and warranty terms
Many jurisdictions require a permit for foundation work, and some require an engineer's design or letter. Ask who obtains them and whether their cost is included. Read the warranty itself: what it covers (piers, lift, or both), whether it transfers to a new owner, and what conditions void it.
What a piering and underpinning quote should include
- Diagnosis and what evidence it is based on
- Pier system, number and location on a drawing
- Depth or load verification during installation
- Stabilization vs. lift goals and tolerances
- Permits, engineering, excavation, backfill and landscaping restoration
- Warranty terms and transferability
Find piering and underpinning contractors near you
Browse the location directory by state, county or city. Each listing shows its license record and the dated source showing the business offers the service. Check the license in the state lookup before hiring, and ask for examples of comparable work.
Ready to describe the problem? Request quotes for piering and underpinning.
Find the right contractor for the problem
What to ask, and what the written quote should include, for each type of work.
- Bowing wall repairWhat to compare before you hire
- Slab foundation repairWhat to compare before you hire
- Crawl space repairWhat to compare before you hire
- Basement drainage and waterproofingWhat to compare before you hire
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a structural engineer before getting piering quotes?
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Not always, but an independent engineer's evaluation gives every contractor the same diagnosis to price against, and some building departments require engineering for foundation work. Ask your local building department what applies to your property.
Why do piering quotes vary so much?
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Bidders may be proposing different causes, systems, pier counts and lift goals. Line up the written scopes first; two totals are only comparable when the work behind them matches.
Sources
- [1]Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice, Hiring a Contractor (added October 16, 2026; not yet re-checked)
- [2]California Contractors State License Board, Check a License (added October 16, 2026; not yet re-checked)
- [3]Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Search for a License (added October 16, 2026; not yet re-checked)
Any prices are ranges published by the sources above, not quotes. Your price depends on the diagnosis, access, soil, permits and local labor rates. Compare written quotes for the same scope.